Granola Bars...a staple at our house!

We love running, hiking and backpacking at our house
and so I'm always making some kind of granola/trail bar,
but some recipes I've tried are too sticky, some are too soft, some are too sweet,
but, this one, is JUST RIGHT!!   

 The perfect blend of ingredients,

the perfect texture 

and they hold together and don't get your hands sticky.

We just got back from a major hike 
and they provided much of our energy to get up the mountain!

This is my main stay recipe and best part of all, 

I always have all of the ingredients to make them up!  

While these granola bars are great running/hiking energy, 
 Kids LOVE them as an addition to their lunches they take to school everyday,
and they also make a great afternoon snack, OR, a great energy bar to start the day out!

Granola Bars 
2 cups rolled oats (NOT quick oats)
1 cup chopped almonds
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
2/3 cup coconut 
1 teaspoon salt 
1/4 tsp cinnamon 

Heat oven to 350 degrees
Spread out rolled oats and chopped almonds on cookie sheet and toast in oven for 15 minutes (stirring every 5 minutes to keep from burning) 
Put oats/almonds in large metal bowl and then add in coconut, sunflower seeds, raisins and dried cherries. 
Heat Sweetened Condensed milk on stove until it's runny in consistency and then add salt and cinnamon and stir well.
Pour heated milk over rest of ingredients and stir well.
Pour into an 8x8 inch pan that has been LINED with parchment paper.  
Flatten mixture with spatula or spoon. 
Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour, until mixture looks dry and it is no longer sticky to touch.
Remove from oven and pull parchment paper out of pan and let cool slightly.
Cut into 12 pieces (you may have to reform into rectangle shapes after you have cut them)
Let cool completely.

If you would like, melt some dark chocolate in the microwave and drizzle over the top of the bars.  

Once they have cooled, wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in a cool place, or in the refrigerator!!  

Enjoy 

some homemade granola bars today!!